Wisconsin Senate District 6: Meet the Candidate | WUWM 89.7 FM

Wisconsin residents will vote for candidates for the state Assembly and Senate on August 13 in the primary elections and on November 5, 2024 in the general election.

These are the first elections with new, competitive district maps.

The candidate from each political party that receives the most votes on August 13 will advance to the November elections.

What do the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly do?

The Wisconsin Legislature consists of 99 Assembly members and 33 senators from across Wisconsin. Together, they have the power to create, amend, and repeal laws.

The Legislature plays a major role in determining how taxpayer-funded state revenues are used in the biennial budget every two years. Whether more or less money is spent on education, economic development, tax relief — that is determined by the majority in the Legislature, along with Wisconsin’s governor, who must sign the budget and other bills.

What’s at stake?

The Wisconsin Legislature has been firmly controlled by Republicans for more than a decade, with gerrymandered legislation.

Last year, these maps were rejected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, with a liberal majority, prompting the legislature to approve new maps proposed by Governor Tony Evers.

Democrats now have a chance to win the Assembly majority if they win several competitive districts.

In the Senate, only half of the seats are up for election, meaning Republicans will likely have a majority in that chamber for the next two years. But Democrats are still trying to flip some seats.

Senate District

Wisconsin’s 6th Senate District includes parts of northern, western and central Milwaukee and part of eastern Wauwatosa.

The district is currently represented by Democrat LaTonya Johnson, who is running unopposed for re-election.

According to WisPolitics, 86% of the vote in the district is Democratic.

WUWM sent a questionnaire to the candidate. Comments below may be edited for length and clarity.

Meet the candidate

LaTonya Johnson (Democrat)

What motivated you to apply for this position?

When I opened a home daycare in Milwaukee, I saw families who were working hard but struggling. I became a 24-hour center to help parents who worked shifts have a safe place for their children while they worked.

I decided to run for public office because I wanted to continue to care for my children in child care, even after they were in my care, and to ensure that all Wisconsin families can thrive. From closing gaps in the Amber Alert system to securing funding for child care access, I ran to help our children and families thrive, and I am running for re-election to continue building a better future for our children.

What concerns do you hear from your constituents and how will you address them if elected?

During my first term as a senator, my office knocked on thousands of doors to ask community members what issues mattered to them. What I hear again and again from our neighbors is that they want safe communities, affordable child care and housing, and access to basic necessities. During my time in the legislature, I have built relationships with other elected officials from all sides of the political spectrum. I am working on bipartisan legislation for affordable housing and plan to continue using my voice on the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee to advocate for Milwaukee’s fair share of investment.

What would success look like to you at the end of your term?

Success at the end of my term would mean more families in Senate District 6 with access to quality, affordable child care, more educational opportunities, and reliable transportation. It would look like safer neighborhoods with common sense, effective gun safety measures. Success would mean our community thriving with fewer racial disparities in economic opportunity and health outcomes, especially for mothers and babies. Ultimately, it would mean a more equitable and prosperous future for all of our community’s residents.

What sets your experience apart from the other candidates in this race?

What sets my experience apart is my deep community roots and ensuring that the community has a voice in policy initiatives. I have a proven track record of solving gaps in our systems based on real challenges that families in our community face. Whether it’s my role as a former child care worker, a mother, or a union president, my approach as a legislator comes from real experiences and a commitment to making a tangible difference.

Please indicate any important expressions of support you received during this race.

I’m still in the early stages of the approval process, but so far I have been supported by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.

LaTonya Johnson campaign website